Chapter 2 of Manhattan Transfer is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Manhattan Transfer is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing. “She’s a regular little balletdancer.” Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet. “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair. “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
Chapter 2 of Manhattan Transfer is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
informal terms for a mother
From this reading ““But mummy I can do it while I dance.””
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
a light shade of red
From this reading ““Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.”
characterized by extravagance and profusion
From this reading ““Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.”
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
shedding tears
From this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
British stateswoman; first woman to serve as Prime Minister (born in 1925)
From this reading ““Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
In this reading ““Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.”
In this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
In this reading “Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “She’s a regular little balletdancer.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She’s a regular little balletdancer.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
a young person of either sex
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
dearly loved
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
and nothing more
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “She’s a regular little balletdancer.”
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
a light shade of red
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
characterized by extravagance and profusion
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading “She’s a regular little balletdancer.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She’s a regular little balletdancer.”
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
not in physical motion
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
shedding tears
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
British stateswoman; first woman to serve as Prime Minister (born in 1925)
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Just look at the child,” said Thatcher, still playing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
very small
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
in or at the place that
From this reading Sheets of the Sunday paper lay where they had fallen from the table; Ellen started dancing on them, tearing the sheets under her nimble tiny feet.
during the time that
From this reading “But mummy I can do it while I dance.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dont do that Ellen dear,” whined Susie from the pink plush chair.
Chapter 2 of Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos holds 401 sentences, grouped into 81 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 2 holds 401 sentences of Manhattan Transfer, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 401 sentences, grouped into 81 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Manhattan Transfer section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Manhattan Transfer to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Manhattan Transfer, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
